RESTRICTIVE AND NONRESTRICTIVE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1. Definition a. A restrictive adjective clause is one that is necessary to identify the noun that it modifies. b. A restrictive clause provides essential or identifying information and does not require commas. Examples a. The professor who/that teaches English 1101 is an excellent teacher. b. c. d. 3. 1. Definition a. A nonrestrictive clause is one that is not necessary to identify the noun that it modifies. b. A nonrestrictive clause provides additional, but nonessential information and requires the use of commas. Examples a. Professor Hach, who teaches English 1101, is an excellent professor. b. Sally Ride, whom you met at my party, is a former astronaut. c. The Miami Herald, which is on the table, has an interesting article on polar bears. d. Dateline, which I watched last night, was informative. Explanation a. The adjective clauses in these examples are not necessary to identify the nouns that they modify. We know which professor, woman, newspaper and TV show because they have been identified by name, so the information provided in the adjective clause is additional or nonessential. b. Nonrestrictive (nonessential) clauses cannot be introduced with that, and the pronoun object cannot be eliminated.

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The television show which/that/ I watched last night was informative. Explanation a. The adjectives clauses in these examples are essential in order to identify which professor, which woman, which newspaper, or which television show is meant.

The woman whom/that/ you met at my party is a former astronaut. The newspaper which/that is on the table has an interesting article on polar bears.

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Notice that restrictive (essential) clauses can be introduced with that, who, whom, or which and that the object pronoun can be eliminated () in examples b and d.

Leslie Biaggi, 2003 Miami-Dade College Document downloaded from the For the Classroom area of The Grammar Exchange website, www.longman.com/grammarexchange. Pearson Education.